Kodiak resident cooked for Obama, dignitariesLaron Jones, one of Kodiak’s newest residents, is not a celebrity, but his résumé surely includes cooking for dignitaries and famous people, including President Barack Obama. Jones is a Coast Guard food service specialist who was stationed at Homeland Security headquarters in Virginia, where he got a chance to cook for the chief executive and other government officials during special events. Jones said his service...

Saturday hoops: Kodiak girls winKodiak increased its Northern Lights Conference winning streak to 18 games with a 43-25 victory over Palmer in a girls basketball game Saturday at KHS. Ila Hughes dropped 16 points, while Kristhel Fangonilo added three 3-pointers and 11 points. The Bears finished their home season with a 6-1 record and improved to 4-0 in the NLC, 8-2 overall. Palmer dropped to 0-3 in the NLC. Kodiak led 11-5 after the first quarte...

Prep hoops: Kodiak gIrls win, boys loseKodiak used a 21-point second quarter to defeat Palmer, 38-23, in a Northern Lights Conference girls basketball game Friday at Kodiak High School. Kristhel Fangonilo drained a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter and ended with a team-best eight points as Kodiak stretched its win streak over NLC opponents to 17 games. Stephanie Price and Dannika Catt each chipped in seven points, while Kahye Yu and Charmaine F...

KODIAK’S GOT IDOL: Local talents to perform tonightThey’ve rehearsed, auditioned and rehearsed again. Tonight, some of the best singing talent at Kodiak High School will hit the Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium to go head-to-head in Kodiak Idol, an annual singing competition. The songs range from modern hits by performers such as Imagine Dragons and Taylor Swift to tunes from Jackson 5 and The Beatles. At Thursday’s rehearsal, the performers belted out their tunes, get...

PORT LIONS TO SITKA: Brothers star for Mt. EdgecumbeNestled on the wooden bleachers in the Kodiak High School gymnasium, Arnie Kewan witnessed something for the first time — his two youngest sons playing high school basketball. It was a treat for the lifelong Port Lions resident. He had watched them play over fuzzy Internet feeds before, but never live. “It was very exciting,” Kewan said. “I wished I could have watched them play a lot more during their high school ...

Public Safety Blotter: Jan. 16Dec. 27 At 2:52 a.m., police warned a driver in the Island Lake and Mill Bay roads area. At 3:35 a.m., after responding to a suspicious vehicle on West Marine Way, police placed drug paraphernalia into evidence for destruction. At 3:47 a.m., police conducted a bar check downtown. At 3:52 a.m., police arrested a man on West Marine Way on suspicion of a probation violation. At 4:07 a.m., a caller requested a subject...

Another gravel pit could open on Rezanof DriveThe Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities wants to start extracting gravel right next to the existing gravel pit on Rezanof Drive West near Dead Man’s Curve. DOT officials are requesting a conditional use permit to allow them to extract gravel from an 8.4-acre area of a 9-acre parcel that is currently zoned conservation. Mineral extraction for nonrecreational use is a conditional use in conserv...

Mistaken about SchmittI recently withdrew myself from consideration for the City of Kodiak seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission, stating that I felt incumbent Alan Schmitt was listening to the people and doing a good job. City Mayor Pat Bransom asked Alan if he would represent the city’s position on issues and he responded that he would. During the recent Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing on the Code revision, it was ...

Around Kodiak: Jan. 16Kayak class A kayaking skills improver sessions will take place 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the MWR pool at Coast Guard Base Kodiak. Participants will work on improved boat control, balance and bracing, Eskimo rescues, different ways of moving sideways and more. If you have taken the intro sessions, this is a great chance to focus on more advanced techniques. Sign up at the MWR pool, 487-5272.

In the Courts: Jan. 16Michael Beck pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct – challenge to a fight. Beck was sentenced to five days in jail. Thadius Borgeman pleaded guilty to misconduct involving a weapon in the fourth degree. Borgeman was sentenced to 360 days in jail (360 suspended) and placed on probation for four years. Thadius Borgeman pleaded guilty to violating conditions of release. Borgeman was sentenced to 30 days in jail. T...